The Perfect Wardrobe, Armani-Style

His new collection of indispensable clothes for everyday reminds us how pretty pragmatic can be

By

Tommye Fitzpatrick

Updated Nov. 16, 2012 5:39 p.m. ET

AS FASHION MILESTONES GO, Giorgio Armani's debut of a suit tailored especially for women—introduced in 1975—was a watershed moment. Mr. Armani used a traditional man's jacket and trousers as a starting point but then proceeded to excise paddings and linings, and to tinker with proportions and fabrics. The result was a suit that was fluid and feminine but preserved the rakish cool of menswear. It won him fans like Lauren Hutton, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster, not to mention legions of high-powered working women. "It was actually women who were clamoring for my jackets," said Mr. Armani via his...